How the David Jones contract impacts Brandon Dubinsky

Assuming Brandon Dubinsky is indeed available, Thursday’s news of David Jones being rewarded with a new four year, $16m contract from the Colorado Avalanche may make Brandon Dubinsky’s contract more appealing to potential suitors.

Dubinsky stumbled through a miserable campaign in 2011/2012 with a mere 34 points, a full 20 points and 14 goals less than the previous year where he was the Rangers top scorer. Jones on the other hand got his big pay day thanks to his second 20 goal campaign as he topped out with 37 points. Not much difference yet both players are being treated in very different ways for their respective 2012 seasons. Despite dropping from 27 goals and 45 points the year previous, the Avs felt compelled to give Jones a $1.5m pay rise and four years. Was the pay rise a result of a weak free agent market this summer?

Jones and Dubinsky are quite comparable in many ways. Very similar in age (Dubinsky 26, Jones 27), size (Dubinsky 6’1, 210lbs and Jones 6’2 210 lbs) and recent production (two 20 goal campaigns each in the past three seasons) both players now share similar contract arrangements, collecting around $4m each annually. Is either player worth the commitment?

If the free agent market continues to dry up it may make Brandon Dubinsky more appealing as a trade option to teams that fail to strike it rich in July. Dubinsky should bounce back to some extent next year given that this season his shooting percentage was his lowest since 2008 and comfortably under his NHL career average. Given the probability of a return to recent production and contracts such as Jones’ being handed out, Dubinsky may indeed have some suitors.

As Dubinsky is indeed still only 26 and with a solid if frustrating career to date he’s still got plenty to give to a team, whether that be the Rangers or another club around the league. Thanks to contracts such as the one David Jones received, Dubinsky may be more moveable now than previously thought.

I would give Dubie until the trade deadline to bounce back . Leave dubie with Cally and AA would be a very good 3rd line . after Kreider Stepan Hags , and BR Gabby $$$$$ 4th line Boyle Prust Gustead would be very nice if possible . Dopn’t who will slot in with BR as of now , but i think all 3 other lines are good both ends of the ice . Let them play at least the first 15 games as units barring injury .

In my opinion it is way too soon to write off Dubinsky as an unworthy player for our team. I also am a believer that Dubi will rebound. However I think it is time to put him in the Center position playing along side Cally and Kreider for next year. Way too soon to give up on the lad

How can anyone justify keeping a $4M+ third-liner? Even if he rebounds, he goes from awfully frustrating to somewhat frustrating. He has skills, but it is clear that he doesn’t enough upstairs to do anything with them. He has no hockey sense.

I’d keep him at $2M, but not if he is being paid like a strong secondary goal-scorer.

He cares…is a great team mate…has size..plays passionately and he simply had a bad season that he will learn from. He wont have this kind of a year that he had. I would like to see him shifted to center though.
He also kills penalties…can be used on the power play and is strong on the puck….that is how

Torts won’t move him to center, because you have to have good hockey sense to be one. As long as Tortorella is coach, you won’t get your wish.

I am not arguing that he is a not good guy or PK-er, but you don’t pay a guy $4M+ to do so. It is poor cap management and won’t get this team any closer to the CUP. If they bring in any big money player, he is gone. I pray that happens, so this team can get to the next level.

i do agree that dubi most likley will rebound but you are never going to get a 40 goal season out of him . if we can get nash without giving up kreider and dubi is involved he have to make the deal also dubi can be packaged to calgary to get iginla